title: Impact of portal vein thrombosis on the efficacy of endoscopic variceal band ligation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Influence of portal vein thrombosis on efficacy of endoscopic variceal banding in patients with cirrhosis or extrahepatic portal vein obstruction has never been evaluated. Aim of the study was to assess influence of thrombosis on rate and time to eradication in cirrhosis and extrahepatic portal vein obstruction undergoing banding, compared to cirrhotic patients without thrombosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of 235 consecutive patients (192 with cirrhosis without thrombosis, 22 cirrhosis and thrombosis and 21 extrahepatic portal vein obstruction) who underwent banding. Banding was performed every 2-3 weeks until eradication; endoscopic follow-up was performed at 1, 3, 6 months, then annually.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eradication was achieved in 233 patients. Median time to eradication in cirrhotic patients with portal vein thrombosis vs. cirrhotic patients without thrombosis was 50.9 days (12-440) vs. 43.4 days (13-489.4); log-rank: 0.04; patients with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction vs. cirrhotic patients without thrombosis 63.9 days (31-321.6) vs. 43.4 days (13.0-489.4); log-rank: 0.008. Thrombosis was shown to be the only risk factor for longer time to eradication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Portal vein thrombosis per se appears to be the cause of a longer time to achieve eradication of varices but, once eradication is achieved, it does not influence their recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano - IRCCS Fondazione Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy; Gastroenterology 3 Unit - IRCCS Fondazione Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: alessandra.dellera@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dell'Era
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano - IRCCS Fondazione Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy; Gastroenterology 3 Unit - IRCCS Fondazione Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iannuzzi
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology 3 Unit - IRCCS Fondazione Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano - IRCCS Fondazione Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy; Gastroenterology 3 Unit - IRCCS Fondazione Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano - IRCCS Fondazione Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy; Gastroenterology 3 Unit - IRCCS Fondazione Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reati
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit - IRCCS Fondazione Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grillo
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology 1 Unit - IRCCS Fondazione Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aghemo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano - IRCCS Fondazione Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy; Gastroenterology 3 Unit - IRCCS Fondazione Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Franchis
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology 3 Unit - IRCCS Fondazione Cà Granda Ospedale Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Primignani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000379:methods*; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications*; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Endoscopic band ligation; Esophageal varices; Portal vein thrombosis